However, as much excitement as there is about opening day, for most of us there are other games which are most keenly awaited.

Here’s the ones Blues fans will be looking out for.

The Second City derby

Blues go to Villa Park on November 24 hoping to end their long winless run in this game.

Since the rivals were reunited in the Championship Villa have been victorious in the last two runnings of this game.

In April 2017 when Gabby Agbonlahor denied Harry Redknapp in his first Birmingham match, in which Paul Robinson was retrospectively banned.

Last term Cheikh Ndoye was sent off as Steve Cotterill’s visitors barely threw a punch in a 2-0 reverse lit up by goals from Albert Adomah and Conor Hourihane.

Blues haven’t won at Villa Park since 2004. About time that run came to an end.

Blues face Villa at St Andrew’s on March 9, 2019.

Blues drew 1-1 at home in October 2016, with David Davis sparking wild celebrations with his equaliser , and 0-0 last term when Jota could have made himself an instant hero. Maybe this season.

The Baggies

Garry Monk’s men host Darren Moore’s side on September 15. Blues last faced Albion at home in the FA Cup in January 2015, when Tony Pulis masterminded a 2-1 victory.

Blues’ first trip to The Hawthorns in nearly nine years comes on March 30, 2019. The last time this fixture was played Albion won 3-1 with an own goal from Scott Dann and strikes from Peter Odemwingie and Jonas Olsson cancelling out Cameron Jerome’s opener.

Festive fixtures

Christmas sees two home games, a very tasty one with Gary Rowett’s Stoke City on Boxing Day and Brentford on December 29.

Rowett’s Derby won 3-0 on his first return to his former home stadium, a result that flattered the visitors last January.

Blues last played Stoke in a breathless Capital One Cup tie in October 2013, which ended 4-4 and with the visitors going through after a penalty shoot-out.

Blues battled themselves to a standstill that day, playing for 75 minutes with ten men following Wade Elliott’s red card. Olly Lee’s 118th minute equaliser put Lee Clark’s men into the shoot-out.

The festive fixtures end with a trip to Sheffield Wednesday on New Year’s Day.